Starbucks to Test AI Assistant for baristas in 35 Locations
Updated June 10,2025
Starbucks is introducing a generative artificial intelligence assistant,”Green Dot Assist,” to 35 stores this month. The goal of this new technology, built with Microsoft AzureS OpenAI platform, is to streamline barista tasks and accelerate service. the company showcased the AI assistant at its Leadership Experience in Las vegas to over 14,000 North American store managers Tuesday.A wider AI rollout across the U.S. and Canada is scheduled for fiscal 2026, starting in the fall.
The initiative arrives as Starbucks seeks to revitalize U.S. sales and refocus on its core values under CEO Brian Niccol,who assumed the role last year. Niccol’s priorities include reducing service times to four minutes per order. Providing baristas with speedy, accurate answers via AI technology could help achieve this goal.
Deb Hall lefevre, Starbucks Chief Technology Officer, said the technology will simplify operations and make baristas’ jobs easier, allowing them to focus on customer interaction. Instead of consulting manuals or the company intranet,baristas can use tablets equipped with Green Dot Assist to answer questions about drink preparation or equipment troubleshooting. The system supports both typed and spoken queries.
It’s just another example of how innovation technology is coming into service of our partners and making sure that we’re doing all we can to simplify the operations, make their jobs just a little bit easier, maybe a little bit more fun, so that they can do what they do best.
Deb Hall Lefevre, Starbucks Chief Technology Officer
Future iterations of the AI assistant may automatically generate IT tickets for equipment malfunctions or suggest replacements for absent baristas, according to Lefevre.
Starbucks is expanding its collaboration with Microsoft nearly a year after Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s CEO, left the Starbucks board. Since ChatGPT’s launch in late 2022, numerous companies have explored integrating generative AI to potentially reduce costs and boost stock values. Walmart and JPMorgan Chase have already implemented AI assistants for their employees.
However, chatbots can sometimes produce inaccurate responses, or “hallucinations.” Lefevre stated that the partnership with Microsoft includes a grounding engine to ensure the accuracy of the facts provided by the AI assistant.
Other restaurant chains are also exploring AI to improve operations. Yum Brands, for example, has partnered with Nvidia to implement AI-driven order taking and restaurant performance assessments. McDonald’s, however, ended its AI drive-thru partnership with IBM after the technology failed to meet expectations.
Starbucks also showcased its latest Mastrena espresso machines and an updated point-of-sale system at the leadership experience. Lefevre noted that experienced baristas can learn the new POS system in as little as an hour. The technology also offers personalized recommendations and remembers loyal customers’ orders.
What’s next
Starbucks plans to monitor the performance of Green Dot Assist in the initial 35 locations before proceeding with the broader rollout in fiscal year 2026. The company will also continue to develop new features for the AI assistant based on barista feedback and operational needs.
